The 34th annual Run for the Roses 5K walk/run will be held this Saturday, April 8 in Prentiss.

The Run for the Roses 5K event is one of Mississippi’s premier road races produced by the Run for the Roses Committee and community participation.

Registration fee proceeds from the race will be used to support the college scholarship fund and community improvement projects.

The event attracts runners/walkers from across the states to Prentiss. Runners from Georgia and Louisiana are pre-registered, among others.

The 5-K Run/Walk will begin at 8 a.m. The one-mile walk/run will begin shortly after the conclusion of the 5-K (approximately 8:30 a.m.) and the quarter-mile preschool walk/run will follow (approximately 9 a.m.).

All participants are urged to arrive at least thirty minutes ahead of event start time in order to check-in and pick up race t-shirts.

You must register to enter the runs and to be eligible to win an award. Individuals and five member teams may compete in the 5K run/walk.

Awards will be given to the overall winner, male and female, first Jefferson Davis County runners, male and female, Masters male and female, Grand Masters male and female, and top three finishers in each age group, male and female.

In the one mile, awards will be given to the top three finishers in each age group (0-15) regardless of sex; and the top two finishers (16 and up) regardless of sex.

Ribbons will be given to finishers while supplies last and an award will be presented to the school with the most participants.

There will be a quarter-mile preschool run for children six years of age and under.

There will also be an Oldest Participant award.

The Overall Winner, male and female, will receive awards and $100 cash.

The Masters Winner, male and female, will receive awards and $50 cash.

T-shirts with race logo and sponsors will be presented to all participants registered prior to April 1.

To honor a long time tradition roses will be given to all female 5K finishers and bouquets for Overall, Masters and Grandmasters female winners.

There will be a $500 cash award given to the male and female who break the 5K course record of male 15:03 minutes and female 18:15 minutes. The female record was broken last year by Tiffany Ann Dudly. Dudly broke the decades old record by finishing the race three seconds faster than the previous record holder with a time of 18:15. Dudly is from Starkville and said she decided she wanted to do a run in the southern portion of the state so she searched the internet and found Prentiss’ Run for the Roses.

The MS Track Club will time all run events and the best time wins each event.

All participants are eligible to win multiple awards.

Brian Turnage, owner of Sound-By-Brian, will be providing the sound system and music for the 5k run. Turnage lives in Brookhaven with his wife Tricia Smith-Turnage and two children, Megan and Caleb.  Brian is a graduate of Brookhaven High School, USM, and is currently an Electronics Instructor at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson.

For 18 years, Sound By Brian has been providing mobile live-sound reinforcement and DJ services all over the Mississippi for music festivals, bands, weddings, proms, relays, etc. Ole Brook Festival, Brookstock, North Delta School Prom, Lincoln County Civic Center Rodeo are just a few events they will work this year. Find more information about Sound by Brian at www.soundbybrian.com. “I am looking forward to visiting Prentiss and plan on playing some upbeat tunes for Run for the Roses that will get people up and moving,” said Turnage.

Fourteen food and craft vendors have signed up to participate Saturday through Unity in the Community and will be located in the Longleaf Trace Park. Items for sale will include jewelry, wreaths, t-shirts, kid’s novelties, Easter baskets and food items. Crimestoppers will be in the park and there will also be a health screening booth checking blood pressure and sugar.

Come out to the Prentiss Longleaf Trace Park this Saturday, April 8, for the festivities. Enjoy good food while being entertained by quality music.

Whether you watch or participate in the runs Saturday morning, it will be a good place to meet your friends or bring your family for food, fun and entertainment.

For further information about the Run for the Roses events visit the website at www.runfortheroses5k.com or contact Missy Jones at 601-792-5741.